Análise do ciclo de vida do leite como ferramenta didática para o ensino de sustentabilidade

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with products and processes throughout all stages of their life cycle. In addition to its technical application, LCA has the potential to be used as an educational resource, contributing to the development of critical environmental awareness among students. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the possibilities of applying LCA as a teaching tool and to develop a didactic sequence based on the life cycle assessment of milk.Initially, a documentary analysis of the Pedagogical Course Projects (PCPs) of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas Gerais (IFMG) – Bambuí Campus was conducted to identify courses and disciplines with potential for the integration of the theme. Subsequently, a literature review was carried out to support the development of an educational activity applied to a high school class.The didactic sequence consisted of an initial diagnostic questionnaire, an interactive lecture, a practical activity using a spreadsheet developed in Microsoft Excel, a collective discussion of the results, and the reapplication of the questionnaire. The results indicated an increase in students’ knowledge regarding sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment, as well as a greater ability to relate factors such as raw materials, packaging, processing, and transportation to the environmental impacts of products.The analysis of the Pedagogical Course Projects also revealed significant potential for the application of LCA in different fields of knowledge, particularly in programs related to Agricultural Sciences, Food Science, and Environmental Studies. It can be concluded that LCA has considerable potential as a teaching tool, promoting the contextualization of content and fostering critical thinking about consumption and sustainability.